Stubbs: We’ll look to make Hibs squad even stronger

DAVID HARDIE

Hibs boss Alan Stubbs has revealed how he’s determined to further strengthen his squad as he targets the Championhip title and automatic promotion.

The head coach will be having discussions over the next few days as to the budget which will be available to him but, he insisted, he expects the Easter Road board to be as supportive in helping him achieve that aim as they have been over the past couple of seasons.

Stubbs believes the Scottish Cup triumph, ending 114 years without the trophy, will enhance the belief that Hibs are heading in the right direction and that, he claimed, will help him not only retain players but attract fresh talent to the Capital.

Although he has a number of players out of contact, most notably Paul Hanlon, Stubbs feels the events of the past few days can help him persuade those he wants to remain at the club to do so although he won’t reveal the names of those who will be released until he has had the chance to speak to each of them personally.

He said: “We certainly want to be putting a promotion challenge together again as well as the European fixtures we’re going to be involved in. That strengthens the case of trying to get a good squad even stronger than it is right now. We have the ball rolling in terms of hittng the ground running and we’ll have meetings over the next couple of days in terms of what we want to do; what the budget will be.”

Hibs have maintained a “Premiership” budget despite being in the second tier of Scottish football and, although they face a third season at that level, reaching the finals of both the League and Scottish Cups and the spin-offs that has brought will undoubtedly have helped bolster the Easter Road coffers.

Stubbs said: “We’ll have a discussion but, if anything, I expect it to be very healthy. The board have been very supportive and days like Saturday enhance the belief that we are definitely doing the right thing, that we are on the right track. I don’t see there being too many problems. The board have done everything, their utmost and even more, to support me.”